May 31 - June 14, 2008
This is the last week to view site-responsive installations by Mariah Johnson and Valerie Molnar at Transformer - the last set of artists' projects in the Here and Now exhibition.
Interested in storytelling, narrative, and memory, Mariah Johnson (Los Angeles, CA) constructs sculptural arrangements from bed linens, particularly sheets and pillowcases that she purchases from second-hand stores. Folded and piled on simple shelves or chairs, as well as on and around the significant or quirky architectural features of an exhibition space, these folding and stacking activities are akin to creating paintings with brush and canvas. The interactions among color combinations, printed patterns, and folding systems become visually engrossing and reference abstract or minimalist paintings.
Valerie Molnar (Richmond, VA) knits paintings. Incorporating a meticulous, repetitive, and unassuming process, Valerie's handcrafted work communicates emotions that machine-made items can never produce. Her knitted wall paintings are presented in non-utilitarian form, with art historical references and eye-candy color schemes that suggest, "Look and analyze, but do not touch." When viewed at a distance, the texture disappears and the object-ness of the knitting creates an image. The friendliness and familiarity of the 'hand knitted object' shifts to suggest painting on the wall; the two coexist in flux, not as versus but as marriage.
Blake Gopnik wrote about these artists' installations at Transformer in this past Saturday's Washington Post: click here.
http://www.transformergallery.org
EXHIBITION HOURS for Here and Now at :
Wednesday - Saturday, 1-7pm by appointment,
1404 P Street NW Washington, DC 20010 / 202-483-1102
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